Let's learn about resilience training.

Life doesn't always flow smoothly, does it? Sometimes we encounter problems, challenges, and hardships that we don't even think about. Some people fall at times like these, but others find strength in those same problems and get back up. That ability to stand firm, not fall, and get back up again is what we call 'resilience'. So today we're talking about a special training that can help you develop this ability.

Simply put, what is resilience training?

It's very simple. Resilience Training is a series of training programs that help us successfully cope with life's most stressful situations, difficult problems, and painful experiences, recover from them, and learn from those experiences to become a stronger person.

Imagine, someone who works in disaster relief has to endure the hardships they see. Or, someone who has a serious illness and is undergoing long-term treatment has to learn to live with that challenge. This training is very important for people like these, as well as for anyone who struggles to recover from even a small setback in their daily lives.

We all react differently to stressful situations. Some people can't sleep, others feel sad or scared. Of course, we're not born with the skills we need to overcome every challenge in life. But the best part is that we can learn these skills.

Who is this training most important to?

Actually, anyone can participate in this training, but it is especially beneficial for these groups.

• First aid and emergency services personnel: They often see traumatic events.
• Disaster workers: They are exposed to severe physical and mental stress because they help others without thinking about their own safety.
• Members of the tri-forces and security forces.
• Healthcare workers: People like doctors and nurses constantly work under pressure, seeing the suffering of patients.
• People with chronic conditions: People who have to live with diseases like diabetes and kidney disease for the rest of their lives.
• For anyone who frequently faces stress and setbacks in life.

For example, someone with diabetes has to control their diet, take their medication properly, and make lifestyle changes. This can be overwhelming at times. At times like these, this training can be a great strength to manage those challenges.

What are the signs that your resilience is low?

If you've experienced a stressful event, it's normal to experience the following symptoms. But if they last more than two weeks or get worse, it could mean that your resilience is a little lower.

If these symptoms persist, you should definitely see your family doctor or a psychiatrist. Don't be afraid to talk about them, especially if you're having suicidal thoughts. It's much better to ask for help than to keep it to yourself.

What actually happens during this training?

Most of the time, this training takes place through face-to-face conversations with a mental health professional . Sometimes, these services can also be accessed through online technology.

You will meet with this professional for an hour or an hour and a half once a week for a few weeks or months. This involves talking about your problems, how to deal with them, identifying your thought patterns, and teaching you the skills you need to become mentally strong.

The main objectives of this training

• Practicing stress management: How to stay calm even in the most difficult times.
• Finding social support: How to get help from family and friends without suffering alone.
• Finding meaning in life: Helping you see the positive aspects of life, even in the midst of problems.
• Teaching good coping skills: How to deal with a problem in a healthy way, instead of turning to alcohol when it arises.
• Promoting positive emotions.
• Stress management.
• Teaching flexible thinking: Practicing looking at a problem from different angles, rather than thinking in the same way.

The methods used for this

To achieve these goals, professionals use various treatment methods.

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy ( CBT ): A method that helps us change unhealthy thought patterns by understanding the connection between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
• Emotional regulation training: How to control emotions like sadness and anger.
• Mindfulness training: Practicing living in the present moment and not worrying about unnecessary things.
• Relaxation practice: How to calm the mind through things like deep breathing .

What are the benefits of this training?

There are many benefits to this training.

• Ability to recover and adapt quickly after stressful events.
• Connecting you with people and resources that can help you during difficult times.
• You can find healthy ways to relieve stress.
• It teaches you to look at problems positively .

Many of the world's most famous athletes and scientists have overcome great challenges in life to achieve their goals. Many of them have developed this ability to be resilient. People with a strong mindset have high emotional intelligence and courage.

If you have these symptoms, definitely see a doctor.

If the following symptoms persist for more than two weeks after a stressful event, see your doctor immediately.

• If you feel unbearable loneliness and sadness .
• If you have thoughts of harming yourself or others .
• If you experience mental symptoms such as hearing someone talking or seeing things that are not there.
• If you are not even doing daily tasks like bathing and eating.
• Substance use disorder ( using drugs or alcohol excessively as a way of coping with problems).

Life is unpredictable. It can bring us the most difficult challenges to overcome. Sometimes it's hard to overcome them alone. Resilience training is a great tool to help you recover in times like these.